Keeping the Costs Down

The enjoyment of smoking cigars does not come cheap. The individual who is just starting out may have an inventory that consists of a cheap cutter and a box of matches. The list of cigars that the amateur likes and dislikes is small, and it is hard to spend any amount of money on something that you may end up throwing away. But there are a number of good solutions to this problem.

The first is to find a good tobacconist. These individuals love to talk about cigars, and will spend as much time with you as you need. They are willing to show you the different products that exist on the market, and with a small amount of input from the buyer can steer you to a number of decent smokes. Generally the cost will be between $5 and $12 per stick, but if you want to dish out more for a smoke they can help you with that as well.

For those who may not feel confident in approaching a tobacconist, fear not, for there are other solutions out there. Nearly every online retailer of cigars has what they call "sampler packs" on their individual sites. These consist of a mix of different cigars, usually in a 5-pack configuration, that will give you a few different options. The cost per stick drops with this option to between $2 and $10 per stick, though again you can pay more (and occasionally less!). This is a good way to try out a few different smokes without committing to a full box. The downsides to this are that you do not get the personal attention that a tobacconist can offer, and you will have to think about storage of the extra smokes so that they remain preserved for future enjoyment. If this is a route you choose to take, some popular sites are www.famous-smoke.com, www.cigarsinternational.com, and www.thompsoncigar.com. There are many more, just be sure that they are reputable before you buy.

And finally, you will find forums out there where you can get some free info on different cigars, and what people think of them. Forums are easy to work with, as they can leave you feeling a bit more anonymous while getting answers to your specific questions. My favorite is over at www.cigarworld.com. The inhabitants are a bit crazy, but I find this comforting.

Cigars are a wonderful enjoyment, and with a little time you will find what you like.